An 8-ft-diameter column packed with 20 ft of 1-in. Berl saddles has air at 1.5 atm and 40°C flowing through it. The tower is apparently close to flooding, since Δp=24 in, of water. The mass velocity of the liquid is 8.5 times that of the gas.

(a) If the tower were repacked with 1" Pall rings, what would the pressure drop be?

(b) How much higher flow rates could be used if the pressure drop were the same as it was with the Berl saddles?